Bands on the run: Harlow vs. Flickerstick vs. Soulcracker

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Which is the best band and why? This'll tell us more about ourselves than some quiz where we all end up being Beck!

― Mr. Tudball & Mrs. A-Whiggins, Wednesday, 23 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My biggest problem with this show is that they only give you brief snippets of the bands' actua music, making it relatively hard to root for them beyond their personalities. Harlow, for example, may be entertaining conversationalists (or not) and fun to look at (except for that bass player...who looks like a drag queen), but who knows how bad their music actually is? I remember hearing Fluffy (the lead singer's old band) and thought they were a poor man's Hole (who are already very poor).

That said, I'm going with Flickerstick...as they sound the most interesting. I liked Soulcracker's country western tune, though.

― alex in nyc, Wednesday, 23 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A little more context here, please.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 23 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Apparently, there are people out there who watch VH1's reality series Band on the Run. Why would be a more interesting question.

― proton, Wednesday, 23 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

True, proton. The country song episode is the only one I've seen all the way through. I hate ALL the bands. They are all children. However, the least childish appears to be Soulcracker, though I hate all the music I've ever heard them play during the bits and pieces I've seen. Also, the main guy looks just like Baba Booey! Soulcracker's country song was pretty good though, but it wasn't my thing. Harlow and Flickerstick need to grow up immediately.

― , Wednesday, 23 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I like the show. It is a welcome antidote to "Making the Band" nonsense. We see 3 absolutely no-name bands act petty and fight for attention in empty venues. Now that's reality programming.

I think Flickerstick will win because they are the least petty. But I don't know any of the rules and as was mentioned the music gets v. short shrift so...

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 23 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I actually just saw the show the other night. The bands were so terrible it was pathetic. A total joke.

― Tim Baier, Wednesday, 23 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

i think flickerstick is good. i like coke and smile. Soulcracker is abzolute scrap as is wHorlow. GOddamn they cant even play their instruments. well adios. o and the guy from soulcracker with the triangle goatee is reaaaly scary.

― liz, Saturday, 23 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Soulcracker sucks, I could play better than there guitarist when I was 11. Their singer is crap too, and whats with the backup singer beastie who doesn't do anything except suck? They should give up. Flickerstick is the only good band--the only reason they won't win is because they're not a bunch of yuppies shoving their cd's in everyone's face like soulcracker. Anyone who likes soulcracker is tone def like them or else their mom. At least harlow was nice. Look at battle of the bands--flickerstick blows everyone out because they're awsome, and everyone else sucks

― IHATESOULCRACKER, Monday, 25 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Flickerstick is by far the better band. Soulcracker's music is decent but the band is a bunch of tools (That beastie guy is a waste of time and does look like the guy from Stern, and someone needs to punch A.P.'s underbite back in place. I thought sutten was a bit cool till he turned out to be a butt pirate in spin the bottle.)When they "vandalized" Tampa I almost pissed myself at how pathetic it was, old women going to church can cause more trouble. Whatever, the show's damn entertaining and flickerstick rocks.

― Quinnt, Tuesday, 26 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i saw flickerstick tonight at the roxy, they rocked.

― chaki, Wednesday, 27 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

VirginMega has a review of Flickerstick's HOllywood show. check it out, sounds great!

http://virginmega.com/default.asp?aid=5AF

― VirginMega, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I just saw Flickerstick tonight in Denton,TX, and saw them a few weeks ago in Dallas. They are fantastic musicians, and Brandin is an amazing performer. Soul Cracker just strikes me as mediocre by comparison -- of course I haven't seen them live. It's hard for me to get past their obnoxious personalities......

― Elizabeth Van Winkle, Saturday, 30 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Flickerstick f***ing rules!!! I honestly don't think any of the "bands on the run" compare to them. Perhaps the Josh Dodes Band could've, though I don't personally like their musical style. Soulcracker is good at what they do, except that they can't write songs, and Beastie can't carry a tune...oh, and they're all annoying little bitches. Flickerstick is cool as shit, except for the occasional "He took my chair" situation. Harlow sounds like a fat mans ass exploding...but they're nice... Going strictly by music... Josh Dodes is for old people, Harlow is for juvenile delinquents trying to piss their parents off, Soulcracker is for tone deaf punks who P.M.S. a lot and can therefore relate, and Flickerstick is for anyone who loves rock music that doesn't make you wanna slit your wrists. Peace.

― Gregory Lynn Brenderman, Sunday, 1 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Like most of the others I like flickerstick. It is hard to judge, because you only get to see short clips, and bands playing live sometimes don't have the best sound as more of a result of the venue, rather than the band. Harlow & Soulcraker, to me, are toatal garage bands with basic skills. Flickerstick has a good sound, someone who can actually sing and a good stage whow. The smashing of the instuments and, the constant drunken bafoonery and the picking up of groupies are rock cliches, but so what? Isn't that what its all about?

― like the email says, Monday, 2 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There is absolutely NO comparison - FLICKERSTICK kicks everyone's ass. SoulCracker did nothing but whine and complain about everything, they cheated by swapping merch with Josh Dodes, they had to rally a bunch of metal-punk burn outs in some warehouse to come to the final Battle of the Bands because they suck so badly. Honestly, they do. Beastie is tone-deaf and what he does is NOT singing, Sutton is a closet alcoholic who tries to sing but usually fails miserably, A.P and Bob are just absolute a$$holes who think they own the planet and Ramsey just stands there like a mime. Harlow and Josh Dodes had their moments, but let's faced it..Flickerstick has talent. REAL talent. Brandin has such a beautiful voice. Fletcher, Dominic, Corey and Rex make an amazing team. They had their typical "boys night out" here and there, and sure, they had fights. The thing is, this made them that much more real. All SoulCracker did was have girl fights between one another. They are so delusional that they actually believed the reason Flickerstick won the 2nd Battle of the Bands was because they broke their gear. Yeah - you wish that was why. THEY'RE BETTER. Period. I'm glad the show is over in a way, because if I had to hear Beastie and Sutton sing that damn "Staring at the suuuuuuuuuuuuuun" one more time, I was ready to jump into the television and beat the f*ck outta them. They lost not because of "corporate" rock - they lost because THEY SUCK.

― Oktobreana, Monday, 9 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Congrats to Flickerstick!!! The band who truly deserved to win finally came out on top. Soulcracker is terrible, please break up and become plumbers or janitors. Leave the rock to Flickerstick

― Dax, Monday, 9 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm glad flickerstick won. Soulcracker' songs are really poor, and they act like fucking bastards. Flickerstick were quite funny and they write pretty good songs. Harlow was a joke, crap songs, no musical skills, shitty attitude supposed to be subversive. Drop the guitar and go work at hot topic bitches.

― xavier, Monday, 9 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm so glad everyone liked flickerstick too! I absolutely hated Soulcracker, they were such jerks. Oh, and their songs were really bad. Flickerstick won because they connected with the audience on an emotional level. That's why, even though Soulcracker stacked the crowd with buddies, they still lost. Flickerstick has some great songs that I would be singing the next day at work, that's when I knew they would win. I've be friends with some bands and it was just like that — sex, beer and rock 'n' roll. Awesome show.

― jana smedley, Monday, 9 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I watched the show occasionally, and I must say that the right band deserved to win. I really don't know why soul cracker would try to get on their hands and knees and beg people to vote for them. They probably did it because like one of the members of flickerstick said, their music totally blows. Flickerstick played amazing shows during the battle of the bands. So what if they did not sell merch like soul? They constantly kicked ass in concert and they were popular, even with a crowd that was unfairly tilted in soul cracker's advantage. I am totally looking forward to seeing flickerstick get their big break and i would love to see them in concert sometime.

― Levi Weber, Monday, 9 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Soulcracker - more like Buttcracker - because that's about as interesting as they are. All they did was whine about how they were so much more talented than the other bands. Yeah...only if everyone in the world is tone deaf, boys!!! Flickerstick was far more talented and really much more to the heart of rock - Soulcracker reminded me of a really bad LimpBizquit (or however you spell that godforsaken band's name). I'm so sick of that type of music, I could puke. I was surprised they didn't win considering how much stupid music sounds exactly like that right now. Yawn!!

― Zelda Fawn, Tuesday, 10 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I love both FlickerStick and Harlow the best! I kind of like the josh dodes band as well , they remind me of The Dave Matthews band but only theres something qhite different about them. It annoys me when people diss Harlow , but yet I know it was coming and I can't say that I am surprised. It is very typical that the girls skills will be ridiculed , picked apart , wondered upon , dissed and all that other stuff but had they been boys , we wouldn't have this problem. Girls get intimidated by women who have talent they do or even beauty and guys usually think they have no buisness being a rocker if their a woman , although usually the guy tries to denie that its because their girls. We all know it is because of that. Amanda is an amazing singer , Rebecca is a wonderful drumer and shes pretty great with the guitar , and lets face it Chimene & Rayshele are great too! People continuiosly whine about being fans of flickerstick and then turn around and diss flickersticks friends , harlow. If you don't like them fine , but out of common decencey , respect for flickerstick and harlow you don't have to childishly attack them. Harlow remind me of Hole , Babes in Toyland and Shirley Manson. I know Courtney would appreciate girl rockers like them coming out. I love Flickerstick just as much as I do Harlow. I however do not like Soul Cracker but i am also mature enough to admit that yes they are talented , but I hate them as people and I don't respect them as people or their worth ethics as musicians. But I do respect their talent in the buisness. As for Harlow , it's so very well known that women in the rock industry , have to work twice as hard as the men. First to proove their more than boobs , then to proove they have talent , then to proove their tough , then to proove they won't take any crap and then that they can make a decent album. As oppose to males , they don't have to work nearly as hard , While they do indeed work hard. Then , there's the complaints and rants from people that Harlow only got on bands on the run , because they had a set of boobs. Which is down and outright stupid sounding , and insulting not only to harlow but the VH1 staff. On a musical reality show , you are not picked based on your looks. You are picked based on talent and the spice you seemingly are though to add to the show. If boobs were the case , they would have hired the other girls because their were other girls with even bigger boobs on the auditioning tape with obviously no talent. Hate me for speaking the truth? I don't care. I'll probably get alot of hate mail from a bunch of idiots but I find myself not caring. Someone had to burst your bubbles.

Harlow Flickerstick & The Josh Dodes Band Rock!

― Jasmine Matias, Wednesday, 11 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Flickerstick kicks ass. There song "Smile" is perfect! This band has a future, i give them one more year untill they EXPLODE on to the music scene. You guys have serious song writting skills. I wish you the best of luck!!

― Jordan Michael Dosch, Sunday, 15 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

REX is the man, the fact that he plays a rickenbaker guitar kicks ass and shows he knows his shit. Flickerstick is now one of my favorite bands. (SOULCRACKER IS NOT AT ALL CLOSE TO BEING THERE)

― Pat Collins, Saturday, 28 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

Flickerstick were by far the best and most interesting group out of the lot. Sure they were lazy and they cheated on girlfriends etc. but what does that have to do with the quality of their output.

If it was about promotion and managerial skills A.P. and Bob from Soulcracker should've won - but it wasn't. I actually quite liked Beastie - i thought that he a had real sense of personality about him. Harlow were a hell of a lot better than Fluffy and i wish them well. I felt sorry for Josh Dodes Band because they were a very good band that had to play to crowds that weren't really into their kind of music.

Things i'll kinda miss:

Soulcracker's hilarious "Staring at the Sun" bellowing sessions.

Harlow's hilarious "Blue Lie-e-yi-e" bellowing sessions

Rex yelling over the totals being read out and annoying the smug Vh1 V.Js

― Phil Morley, Wednesday, 15 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I didn't start watching the show until the Josh Dodes band was already gone. But when I saw the Battle of the Bands episode between Harlow, Soulcracker and Flickerstick, I was hooked....on Flickerstick! They were awesome compared to the other two. Soulcracker always sounded so tinny – and what's with the guitar strings sticking out all over the place? And Beastie! How many bands out there have a guy (that's not the lead singer) that doesn't do anything but run around the stage? Harlow wasn't as bad as people make them out to be, but I'm not in to gloomy goth type music anymore. Then there was Sutton, always sitting with his legs crossed, speaking to his bandmates with this condescending tone. I got so nervous watching the last Battle of the Bands show, because VH1 really stacked the show with signs that Soulcracker was going to win. I had to keep telling myself that there was no way that Flickerstick could lose cuz their live show was too unbeatable. Fortunately I was right! I have to say that I saw Soulcracker perform live here in Detroit. I was at a Friday night boat races party at a club on the riverfront, and I knew that Soul was scheduled to perform there on Saturday. While my sister and I were walking around, we saw Sutton and he stopped us and gave us tickets to the show. We talked to him for a little while and he was very nice (and a lot cuter in person than he looks on the show). I told him I was interested in hearing them live, because I thought they sounded like crap on the show. Plus I was going to be seeing Flickerstick at another club in Detroit 2 weeks from then, and I would be able to really compare the 2 with my own ears. Well, we went to the Soul show the next night and they were fun to watch. There is a lot more interaction between Sutton and Beastie than you saw on the show and they're quite entertaining and seem to be having a great time. AP is animated as well, but Ramsey is pretty boring. Some of the songs are all right, but when the show was over I could barely remember most of what I'd heard. Nothing really stuck with me. I figured that if they at least sounded better than they did on the show that could only mean one thing – that Flickerstick would sound really good! AND THEY DID! They're show was one of the best I've ever seen! They are all great performers. The club they were at had no air conditioning and it was about 92 degrees outside and probably over 100 inside. But you hardly noticed because you couldn't take your eyes off of them. They came outside after the show to sign autographs, be photographed, etc. and were very down- to-earth and polite. I think they may be a little shell-shocked with the popularity they are experiencing so suddenly as a result of being on the show. I just hope they continue to write great music and become the kind of big stars that they wish to be!

― debbie base, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

UGH. How can anyone say any of these bands "kicked ass". I'd change the channel when any of them started performing. However, I'd watch it when they weren't singing because I love adults who display junior high school behavior. Dominic is a sack of shit too.

― Lindsey B, Wednesday, 22 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Soulcracker was like if Fugazi was a party band, not that I'm any sort of Fugazi fan. Harlow I couldn't get a handle on at all, but they didn't bother me too much. Flickerstick are ugly and terrible; I'm not surprised they won. This was a pretty entertaining show.

― Kris, Thursday, 23 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one year passes...

Wow. Remember 2001? Sheesh.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Where are they now??

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 12:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Odd that VH1 didn't do another season with four new bands, no?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

If they do enough series of them, then they can do:
-100 greatest Bands on the Run Artists
-100 sexiest Bands on the Run Artists
-Bands on the Run - Legends
.. etc.. an endless supply of VH1 "documentaries".

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 12:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"I was hooked....on Flickerstick!"

"If boobs were the case , they would have hired the other girls because their were other girls with even bigger boobs on the auditioning tape with obviously no talent. Hate me for speaking the truth? I don't care. I'll probably get alot of hate mail from a bunch of idiots but I find myself not caring. Someone had to burst your bubbles."

"Soulcracker - more like Buttcracker - because that's about as interesting as they are."

This thread rules!

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

heading to CMJ 2001 allowed us to attend the Hedwig & the Angry Inch screening/Q&A. I got to meet Stephen Trask, ask him about Bob Mould, and give him a WCBN button.

sitting behind us were a handful of guys in "modern-rockers-on-tour" garb. I asked what band they were in. "Soulcracker". Right as I began to crack up and give a really smartass reply, my friend elbowed me straight in the ribs, causing me to lose my comment in a fit of coughing.

That's my Soulcracker story. Not as good as David Cross' Harlow story, but then, what could be?

and there's a great archive of episode-by-episode recaps of the show.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread revival must not die. This and Jay-Z performing outdoors for the VMAs = musical life in the summer before 9/11. Or something.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 17:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The Petition for another season of Bands on the Run begins here!
Somebody write up a letter to VH1. We all sign it. Hijinks Ensue.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 21:30 (twenty-two years ago)

But next round they must have an ICP cover band, a collective of Hassidic lesbian version of Destiny's Child and a string quartet that does acid-damaged goth-funk.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 21:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I still want to hear the Flickerstick cover of "Fade Into You." I imagine it to be brutal.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

its not bad! I was on the last episode of this! my friends and i were so obsessed with this show. we went to the final performance and got backstage and partied with everyone. then we went to the (Riot) Hyatt and did more partying! Bob and Ramsey from Soulcracker just emailed me i guess they're in a new band.

― chaki (chaki), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 23:26 (twenty-two years ago)

All I remember is that Josh Dodes was bald, and I liked that.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 5 August 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

This was the only reality show I was completely addicted to. I want another season now!

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 08:58 (twenty-two years ago)

they should move the writers from the Real World over to Bands on the Run. Not only would you get 4 groups of Kwazy Kids Trying to Make a Buck, but the shows would probably get more interesting with all the inter-fucking and -fighting and mutual accusations of racism that'd occur.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

...and mutual accusations of racism that'd occur.
"Ladeeezzz and Gentlemen, are U Ready 2 Rawk? Wellll, then put yer hands together for the Next Big Thing: 'Trife and Onions' !"

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

The Last Good Reality Show

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Sunday, 27 February 2005 03:00 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

Sorta sad.....I couldn't help noticing that Flickerstick are playing at The Lion's Den in April. For those unfamiliar, the Lion's Den is a crappy venue off of the West Side of Bleeker Stret where shitty Phish cover bands play. If your band is playing at the Lion's Den, -- it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that you're going nowhere fast. What's so sad is the Flickerstick had a taste of it...and lost it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 18 March 2005 01:08 (twenty years ago)

they were dicks

― charleston charge (chaki), Friday, 18 March 2005 01:15 (twenty years ago)

Well, they did suck. I could always refer to the CD of theirs I bought for kicks, but I'd rather not back up my opinion of a sucky band by pointing out how they suck. Pretty good production, though.

― Eleventy-Twelve (Eleventy-Twelve), Friday, 18 March 2005 01:16 (twenty years ago)

I love the invasion of Flickerstick trolls on this thread!

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Friday, 18 March 2005 01:35 (twenty years ago)

omg i'd forgotten about this

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 18 March 2005 01:38 (twenty years ago)

Harlow sounds like a fat mans ass exploding...but they're nice

My favorite quote on this thread.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 18 March 2005 01:43 (twenty years ago)

All those bands were so generic. Josh Dodes Band was kinda generically quirky, as befits a piano-centered band (closer to Steely dan than Ben Folds, so that's something, at least) Just a matter of which approach is in the neigborhood of yr. own alley. In my case, Harlow. But accroding to their ('01) link on vh1.com, the only recording they had available was via cash-only, to one of the musos, and she would presumably send a 2-song burn. (Josh Dodes Band had an album in Coconuts soon's they got flushed, with a VH-1 Bands On The Run sticker, even!)But still I wonder: wha happened to Harlow?

― don, Friday, 18 March 2005 06:31 (twenty years ago)

It was a genuinely interesting premise -- Reality Tv-wise -- I can't understand why they never did another season.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 18 March 2005 06:38 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I followed it closely! As to why mo more, one reason (talk about generic, but still) might be uh 9/11. Knocking all the media for a loop, for a while, so whatever team put together the first season may have drifted or been taken apart, found other porjects, either way. Probably trickier (incl. more expensive) than som e of their other stuff. Which is now usually marked all the way down to (lower case in every sense) talking heads, at least some of whom would prob pay VH-1 to be slotted.

― don, Friday, 18 March 2005 06:52 (twenty years ago)

might be uh 9/11

Very good point. Still.....three and half years later, with shows like "PowerR Girls" and "the Ashlee Simpson Show" clogging up the airwaves, "Bands on the Run" seems like a positive Think Tank.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 18 March 2005 06:56 (twenty years ago)

This manner of show was co-opted by Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne, Inc. The winner, a generic group of metal-playing simpletons, were awarded a slot on the Ozzfest tour. The criterion for victory seemed to be best metaphysical kneeling and kissing of the knuckles of the Ozzy & the Sharon, or some facsimile thereof.

Since young Americans wishing to be rockers or celebrities naturally practice and accept scraping before royalty, the competition was fierce.

― George Smith, Friday, 18 March 2005 07:09 (twenty years ago)

"Simpletons" taking us all the way down to present day, yes.Open the dooor, Gomer!

― don, Saturday, 19 March 2005 02:23 (twenty years ago)

twelve years pass...

Soulcracker - more like Buttcracker - because that's about as interesting as they are.

― Neanderthal, Friday, 31 March 2017 04:25 (eight years ago)

two years pass...

thought they were a poor man's Hole

― sorry for butt rockin (Neanderthal), Thursday, 26 March 2020 01:37 (five years ago)

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